Guaranteed Income Pilot
Invest in a pilot program that will look at the impact of direct payments to create financial security.

Early Education
Invest in additional childcare slots and incentive grants tied to professional development to bolster the workforce.

Economic development
Invest in business development and retention by providing technical assistance to very small businesses through the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County.

Workforce development
Invest in assistance programs that will incentivize employers to create paid internships and expand Contra Costa County’s paid internship programs.

Building trust between government and trusted community voices and organizations is important in sharing resources. Contra Costa County could promote its programs and projects by fostering trusted relationships with nonprofit organizations and identifying critical messengers in each supervisorial district.

Supervisor Burgis currently hosts an East Contra Costa Nonprofit Roundtable, which could serve as a model to be replicated.

Small businesses could benefit from more County-level support. Creating mentorship programs, providing technical assistance, and partnering on work-based learning initiatives are all investments in the community at-large and could strengthen the relationship between employers and social service agencies.

Continue to support the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative Strategic Action Plan and energy-transition job training programs that will promote growing and evolving industries and keep residents locally employed.

Identify opportunities for part-time work within the County as a response to the needs of caregivers and in an effort to keep women in the workforce.

Consider utilizing the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice to examine racial disparities in local industry sectors and make recommendations on strengthening pipelines to employment for marginalized residents.

Research shows that many businesses were unsure, uncomfortable, or unsuccessful in accessing Paycheck Protection Program loans because they lacked a strong relationship with a financial institution.

Partnering with organizations to ensure clients served by Contra Costa County have access to products and services intended to deepen financial inclusion would ensure that more Contra Costa County residents have the tools they need to participate in the financial system. The County could also ensure its employees have access to these products and services and take a more active role in encouraging direct deposit for County employees.

Consider using some of the newly created Housing Trust Fund dollars for grants or interest-free loans for down payment assistance to enable homeownership in communities with a history of housing discrimination and/or redlining as a way to address racial inequality.

Consider using some of the newly created Housing Trust Fund dollars to assist in the preservation of affordable housing and opportunities for collective ownership.

Invest in the creation of a data library for Contra Costa County reports and presentations. A searchable database that combines the collective research of County departments and agencies would be of benefit to the County and its community partners.